FOUNDERS STORY

Founder & President, Dynami Foundation

14-Year Invasive Lobular Breast Cancer Survivor | Oncology Professional | Advocate | Philanthropist

FLORA MIGYANKA

From One Diagnosis to a National Movement

Flora Migyanka is a nationally recognized patient advocate, nonprofit founder, oncology professional, and breast cancer survivor. As Founder & President of the Dynami Foundation, she has spent more than a decade advancing research, scientific collaboration, patient advocacy, and philanthropy for invasive lobular breast cancer (ILC)—one of the most underfunded and underrecognized subtypes of breast cancer. Today, she is recognized for helping bridge the worlds of patient advocacy, scientific collaboration, philanthropy, and oncology to accelerate progress for patients living with lobular breast cancer. 

Diagnosed in 2012 at the age of 40 while raising two young children, Flora's life changed overnight. As a patient at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, she underwent a bilateral mastectomy, reconstruction, and more than a decade of tamoxifen therapy. Like many women diagnosed with invasive lobular breast cancer, she quickly discovered that despite being the second most common subtype of breast cancer, lobular disease remained significantly underfunded, understudied, and underrecognized. Rather than accept the status quo, Flora transformed her diagnosis into a lifelong mission to help change the future of invasive lobular breast cancer. 

What began as one woman's diagnosis would ultimately grow into a national movement bringing together patients, physicians, researchers, philanthropy, and industry around one shared purpose: accelerating progress for invasive lobular breast cancer. 

In 2016, Flora partnered with her first cousin, Madeline Triffon—the first woman Master Sommelier in the United States—to launch Uncork for a Cure, a fundraising initiative that grew from a small community dinner into one of Michigan's premier culinary and wine events supporting invasive lobular breast cancer research and patient programs. 

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Early Advocacy and Building a National Movement

What began as a conversation over a glass of champagne evolved into something much larger. That movement became the Dynami Foundation, named after the Greek word for strength—a reflection of Flora's Greek heritage and the women she serves.  Under Flora's leadership, Dynami has invested

$3 MILLION

MORE THAN

in research and patient support initiatives while funding scientific partnerships, educational programs, patient assistance efforts, and innovative research focused on improving outcomes for women diagnosed with invasive lobular breast cancer. 

What began as a single dinner with a shared purpose grew into a national movement advancing research, collaboration, and hope for those impacted by invasive lobular breast cancer.

Flora's commitment to advancing invasive lobular breast cancer extended well beyond fundraising. In 2017, she became one of the founding patient advocates of the Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance (LBCA), working alongside founder Leigh Pate and other early leaders to elevate awareness of this overlooked disease and advocate for greater scientific investment. 

Following Leigh's passing, Flora established the Leigh Pate Memorial Lectureship, honoring Leigh's extraordinary legacy while continuing to foster meaningful collaboration among researchers, clinicians, advocates, and patients dedicated to advancing invasive lobular breast cancer research. 

In 2022, the Dynami Foundation was selected to participate in the University of Michigan Ross School of Business Executive Multidisciplinary Action Project (ExecMAP), a highly competitive strategic consulting initiative that helped strengthen the Foundation's long-term organizational strategy and national vision. 

Patients can't afford slow science.

Helping Launch the Lobular American Research Consortium (LARC)

One of Dynami's most significant milestones came in 2026 when the Foundation provided $250,000 in catalytic seed funding to help launch the Lobular American Research Consortium (LARC)—the first coordinated national scientific consortium in the United States dedicated exclusively to invasive lobular breast cancer 

Structured as an independent, investigator-led collaboration, LARC brings together leading physicians, scientists, and academic cancer centers to accelerate discovery, collaboration, and innovation for patients diagnosed with invasive lobular breast cancer. As LARC's founding philanthropic partner, Dynami helped provide the catalytic support and organizational infrastructure necessary to bring this unprecedented national collaboration to life. 

The launch of LARC represents the culmination of years of relationship-building among patients, physicians, researchers, advocacy organizations, philanthropic supporters, and industry partners who share a common belief that collaboration—not competition—is the fastest path toward better treatments and improved outcomes for patients living with invasive lobular breast cancer. 

Building on that momentum, Dynami continues to invest in the future of invasive lobular breast cancer research. In 2026, the Foundation also established its first Conquer Cancer Young Investigator Award focused on invasive lobular breast cancer through Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation, supporting the next generation of physician-scientists dedicated to advancing the field. 

Over the past decade, Flora has built trusted relationships with patients, physicians, scientists, academic institutions, industry leaders, and philanthropic partners across the country. She has championed collaborative research, supported studies presented at major scientific meetings including the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting and the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), and has remained a steadfast advocate for increased investment in lobular-specific research, biomarker development, precision medicine, and improved patient outcomes. 

Advancing the Next Generation of Research

In 2025, Flora became the first patient advocate invited to join the scientific stage during the dedicated Invasive Lobular Breast Cancer Special Session at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS)—the world's largest and most influential breast cancer research conference. Representing the patient voice alongside internationally recognized physician-scientists and thought leaders in lobular breast cancer, she participated as the only patient advocate in a session dedicated exclusively to advancing the science of invasive lobular breast cancer. The milestone reflected a growing recognition that patients are essential partners in shaping research priorities, clinical trial design, and the future of cancer care. 

For Flora, meaningful scientific progress happens when patients are not simply the beneficiaries of research, but active partners in helping shape it. 

In 2026, Flora also served as a co-author on the peer-reviewed publication, Geographic Differences in Patient Experience After a Diagnosis of Lobular Breast Cancer, published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology. Based on the experiences of more than 900 patients across North America and Europe, the study highlighted critical challenges in diagnosis, treatment, recurrence concerns, and survivorship while helping bring the lived experiences of patients directly into the scientific literature. 

Dynami's leadership and collaborative approach have also been recognized within the scientific literature as part of the growing international movement advancing invasive lobular breast cancer research. 

Flora is the recipient of the 2021 Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute Heroes for Cancer Community Service Award, serves in advocacy and advisory roles supporting the breast cancer community, and has been featured in the book I Survived Cancer and Here Is How I Did It. She is widely recognized for her ability to connect patients, researchers, clinicians, philanthropy, and industry around a shared mission to advance invasive lobular breast cancer research. 

Professionally, Flora brings more than 25 years of experience in oncology and biotechnology, partnering with physicians, cancer centers, researchers, and healthcare professionals dedicated to bringing innovative therapies to patients. Her unique perspective as both an oncology professional and long-term survivor allows her to bridge the worlds of science, medicine, advocacy, philanthropy, industry, and lived patient experience. She believes the greatest advances happen when patients, researchers, clinicians, philanthropy, industry, and advocacy organizations work together toward a common purpose. 

Proud of her Greek heritage, Flora named the foundation Dynami, the Greek word for strength—a value that continues to guide both her personal journey and the Foundation's mission. 

Today, Flora continues to lead the national growth of the Dynami Foundation while working alongside researchers, clinicians, patient advocates, industry leaders, and philanthropic partners to accelerate progress in invasive lobular breast cancer. 

Looking Ahead

Today, Flora continues to lead the national growth of the Dynami Foundation while working alongside researchers, clinicians, industry leaders, patient advocates, and philanthropic partners to accelerate progress in invasive lobular breast cancer.

Whether funding innovative research, supporting women during treatment, convening scientific leaders, or helping launch national collaborations such as LARC, her mission remains unchanged:

What began with one diagnosis has become a national movement dedicated to ensuring that no person diagnosed with invasive lobular breast cancer faces a future limited by a lack of research, collaboration, or hope.

Recent Milestones

  • Founded Uncork for a Cure

  • Founded the Dynami Foundation

  • Founding Patient Advocate, LBCA

  • Established the Leigh Pate Memorial Lectureship

  • Recipient, Karmanos Heroes for Cancer Community Service Award

  • First patient advocate on the scientific stage during the dedicated ILC Special Session at SABCS

  • Co-author, Annals of Surgical Oncology

  • Launched the first Dynami Foundation–supported Conquer Cancer Young Investigator Award for $50,000

  • Provided $250,000 in catalytic seed funding to launch the Lobular American Research Consortium (LARC)